Dried shiitake mushrooms have a better aroma, and fresh shiitake mushrooms have a better taste. People choose different types of dried mushrooms in different dishes. For example, fresh mushrooms are more convenient and tastier in stir-fried dishes. On the other hand, dried shiitakes have an umami flavor that’s even more intense than when fresh. That’s why dried mushrooms like shiitakes are great additions to soups and stews.

 

 

Dried mushrooms buying tips:

Many restaurants can’t control dried mushrooms’ quality. Why not try the following 4 steps - “observe, smell, ask, touch” to determine and to pick quality shiitake mushrooms.

1. Observe

  • Thicker cap - First, look at the dried shiitake mushroom caps. The thicker the cap, the stronger the fragrance.

  • White flower-like cracking pattern - The natural cracked patterns have variable shapes, and sizes.

  • The edge of the mushroom cap - It is better if the edge is rolled inward, and the straight edge represents overripe.

2. Smell

  • The shiitake mushrooms with a better potent flavor and aroma are the best choice. In contrast, bad shiitake mushrooms have no smell or even stinky and musty smells.

3. Ask

  • The next step is to ask about where shiitake mushrooms are originally from. The main areas of dried shiitake mushrooms exported from China include Zhejiang, Hubei, Fujian, Shaanxi, and Henan and Hebei. The mushrooms exported from these areas are well-known and the quality is excellent.

4. Touch

  • When choosing good dried mushrooms, you can feel firmness when holding the mushroom stem. After letting the mushroom go, the grills will be smooth again. The mushrooms are dried but not broken, which makes the best quality of dried mushrooms.

Can’t pick dried mushrooms in person?

ez100 helps you select the best dried mushrooms. After thousands of restaurants’ purchases and feedback, we are able to control the quality in advance. In addition, you can choose different grades of mushrooms too. For instance, the white shiitake mushrooms are one of the best. They are usually used in special cuisine with better taste. Tea flower mushrooms and mushrooms are more common in restaurants.